This blog would like to distance itself from today’s Telegraph

In a recent editorial this blog expressed some concern at the way the Cameron leadership has been backing away from traditional Tory commitments on, for example, school choice and tax relief. In that respect The Telegraph’s leader on yesterday’s Tory ad strikes a chord with us. The leader noted that there there will be "dismay" on the right "at the abandonment of the "patient’s passport", and at the ominous silence on the subject of tax cuts". ConservativeHome also shares The Telegraph’s enthusiasm for David Cameron’s commitment to police reform.

But there is another section of today’s Telegraph leader which we completely reject. The Telegraph (which might still be suffering from some of its editorial staff being on Christmas leave) writes:

"The traditionalists will also be hoping that all this talk of tackling poverty and standing up to big business amounts to no more than a few cuddly platitudes designed to win back the middle ground."

The Telegraph is wrong and out-of-touch in those sentiments. This blog hopes and believes that David Cameron is 100% serious about those aspirations on poverty and big business.

Poverty is very real in Britain today and a snooty indifference to 21st century hardship has caused much of the middle class flight from the blue corner. David Cameron’s decision to give Iain Duncan Smith oversight of the social justice policy group suggests that he is open to IDS’ emphasis on small ‘c’ conservative remedies to social exclusion. These include measures to strengthen the family, reduce drug addiction and help young people escape the conveyor belt to crime. All thoroughly conservative and compassionate measures.

Standing up to big business should also be an integral part of conservatism. Big business often conspires with big government and big media to crowd out competition and diversity. Perhaps the best recent definition of the Conservative Party’s ideal purpose came from Michael Howard in the early days of his own leadership. He said:

"No one should be over-powerful. Not trade unions. Not corporations. Not the government. Not the European Union. Wherever we see bullying by the over-mighty, we will oppose it, and stand up for people’s rights and freedoms."